Who knew that the 21st game of the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 would be a top-of-the-table clash featuring the two-time runners-up New Zealand and two-time champions India? England are falling apart while Australia have recovered from a poor start and South Africa are one failed chase away from another loss. Both teams have played spectacularly as India have chased in all four games, without much discomfort apart from the Australia match and bowled extremely well in all of them. But New Zealand have been their nemesis and India will have to be wary of that.
New Zealand have bowled well, fielded well and batted well and haven't let the absence of Kane Williamson affect them one bit. But can they do the same on a conducive wicket in Dharamsala against India? Top two teams, two favourites on a sporting wicket? Should be a cracker!
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala Pitch Report
The surface at the HPCA Stadium has played well in the three matches so far. Out of three matches, only one has been a day/night game while the first two matches were played only in the day. The visible difference between the day games in the first day-night game was the amount of swing and help the bowlers got in the evening. A par score looked above par. Yes, the ground is small so no score might seem safe as the surfaces are flat at the HPCA Stadium but the trend in the tournament has been such that even if the captains might decide to bowl, the teams batting first are winning more games if they get a total in excess of 300.
As far as the pitch for the Sunday game is concerned, it looks like the live grass is negligible which means spinners will have a say in the game and it might slow down if dew doesn't arrive. It is set to remain cloudy throughout the day, which means overcast conditions might assist the seamers. All in all it looks set for a good sporting wicket.
In Dharamsala too, sides batting first have won two out of three matches in the World Cup. While New Zealand have batted first and chased well, India have only chased targets in four games so far. So if New Zealand do decide to bat, India will be in their comfort zone but the Kiwis will be a different gravy altogether both while batting and bowling and hence if the Men in Blue bat first they will hope to bat the 2019 runners-up out of the game.
